Phil DiStefano

DiStefano was born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor of Science at the Ohio State University and Masters of Arts in English from the West Virginia University. He also holds a PhD of humanities studies from the Ohio State University.[4]

He started his career teaching English at a high school in his hometown of Ohio, and has authored several articles with various topics based only on literacy education. In 1974 he joined the University of Colorado in Boulder as an assistant professor in curriculum and instruction at the school of education. As a perspective donor, professor, provost, parent, dean and chancellor, he works closely with the staffs, alumni, students, faculty, donors, industry, businesses and community leaders, and government for the development of the institution as comprehensive research university.[5]

DiStefano was also a member and director on several boards in and outside of the institution, like the Association of American Universities, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, North America's Research Universities which the University of Colorado was the only member in West Rocky Mountain, Boulder Community Hospital and the Pac-12 Conference.[6]

He co chaired the steering committee of University of Colorado visionary and strategic plan, conceived with campus, Flagship 2030, community and statewide input and to guide CU-Boulder for decades to come. He is shepherding the implementation as the 2023 flagship moves to reality.

He also held the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed leadership chair and he oversees the University of Colorado prestigious leadership programs.[7]

In 2018 DiStefano announced a cut to the budgets of the CU Student Government by more than 90%, opting to move 21 million dollars of the 23 million dollar budget over to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. The officials at the university handed documents containing an explanation for the changes and were told to direct calls and request to the college spokesman, however students ignored the request and gathered to protest at the campus memorial center. Many students unions gathered on short notice, who were rallied to call for the removal of Chancellor DiStefano for the decision. The rally was led by five groups of student union candidates in another separate campaign.[8]

DiStefano was suspended without pay for 10 days from his job as chancellor for failing to report domestic abuse allegations against an assistant coach at the school. The university's Board of Regents declared his lack of care and focus regarding the woman's allegations of violence against the assistant football coach. Many others have been disappointed as Rick George, the athletics director, and Mike MacIntyre, the football coach shared the allegations with DiStefano who failed to report them and give the situation any attention. George and MacIntyre were both ordered to pay $100,000 to domestic violence charities which many thought it was an unfit punishment as their salaries (without bonus) were more than $2 million. DiStefano "graciously" donated his 10-day suspension pay to domestic violence charities as well.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/06/13/colorado-boulder-chancellor-suspended-failing-report-alleged-domestic-violence

CU Professor Ward Churchill wrote an essay in September 2001 entitled On the Justice of Roosting Chickens. In it, he argued that the September 11 attacks were provoked by U.S. foreign policy. He described the role of financial workers at the World Trade Center as an "ongoing genocidal American imperialism" comparable to the role played by Adolf Eichmann in organizing the Holocaust. In 2005, this essay drew attention after Hamilton College invited Churchill to speak.[9] This led to both condemnations of Churchill and counter-accusations of McCarthyism by Churchill and his supporters. Following the controversy, the University of Colorado interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano said, "While Professor Churchill has the constitutional right to express his political views, his essay on 9/11 has outraged and appalled us and the general public."[10] A documentary titledShouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech, broadcast on HBO, prominently features Churchill's case in addressing the issues of free speech and First Amendment rights.

In 2009 DiStefano was arrested by Boulder police at his home after driving home recklessly from a CU event and failing an on-site alcohol test. He was arrested and charged for a DUI. Yet this negligent behavior did not keep him from becoming chancellor of the school. Since then DiStefano has faced more backlash from students and the public unhappy with his performance and cadence as chancellor of CU Boulder. Many condemn his concern for the safety and wellbeing of CU students by failing to notify them of safety hazards within the community.

On March 22, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder. DiStefano failed to send alerts to notify students and faculty of the shooting resulting in disappointment from both students and parents for lack of concern for the wellbeing and safety of the community.

As recent as February 1, 2022, a man in Boulder wrote an 800-page manifesto in which he threatened the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) alongside Colorado University Boulder. The incredibly violent manifesto caused alarm for UCLA and they changed all classes to remote for the day. On the other hand, DiStefano allowed all classes to continue on campus regardless of the "shooting, bomb, and schoolyard massacre" threats made by the man who was actively in Boulder. The perpetrator of the threats was later arrested at his apartment in Boulder less than a mile from the CU campus. Since both of these events, many students condemn DiStefano for not caring about the safety of students and were especially alarmed that out-of-state threats caused enough alarm for UCLA to close campus but not CU Boulder that was actively facing the instate threat. Many students express their desire for his resignation and the opportunity for a new beginning with better leadership to set better examples at CU.

DiStefano got married in 1969 to Yvonne and has three daughters with two grand children.[5]